Lanesboro

17 Aug 2013

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A weekend to remember

A weekend to remember

The Lanesboro Gathering 2013 weekend was truly a most wonderful weekend in the parish. It was made all the most memorable by the many people that travelled back to Lanesboro for the weekend. We were blessed all weekend with the weather and the good Lord blessed all the hard work in preparing for the weekend with a great spell of weather despite earlier forecasts of broken weather for the weekend. On Friday night a huge crowd turned out in the Parish hall for the Official Opening. Following the opening Kieran Feeney presented a hugely impressive audio visual where he interviewed a big number of locals throughout the parish and then presented their tales of the parish. In the library Bernadette Clancy was presenting her wonder Folklore Writings of schoolchildren from the primary schools of Lanesboro and Fermoyle in 1938. All three events were full to overflowing and set the tone for the weekend. The musical tones were also set in the Parish Hall when Jimmy Flanagan assembled the finest musicians in the entire area to make a very special musical opening. The musical entertainment continued with a huge number attending and really enjoying the Junior Disco with DJ Stephen Donoghoe. The night was brought to an end with the excellent local group Actin de Maggot to a large crowd. Saturday began with a fishing competition held on the banks of the Shannon. A nature walk took place through the woods under the expert guide of all Sue Moles. This was followed by a tour of the ESB power station with John Sorohan being a most knowledgeable tour guide. Then it was time to go home and prepare for a man making a return to Lanesboro after almost 50 years. Yes, Brendan Bowyer was coming back after all those years. Boy, did he bring the house down and the full marquee spent the night on the dance floor. Nothing changed, his show was absolutely brilliant and Brendan was joined on the stage by his daughter Aisling and excellent band. Sunday began with a beautiful Gathering Mass in St. Mary’s Church where the Shannon Gaels Minor Club provided an excellent choir. Sunday afternoon was a family time on the banks of the Shannon along with a display of vintage cars and boats in the bay area. The final curtain was being brought down in the marquee on Sunday night with local lads Gary Tobin, Sean Mc Grath and their band Story Horse providing and excellent lead into tribute band Knights of Leon. The night closed to the sounds of Disco Apes aka Kieran Feeney and Tommy Keenan who really brought the weekend to a fantastic closure. There was a wonderful atmosphere in town all weekend and it was very special for the organisers to see so many returning for the celebration of the Gathering. Lanesboro and the parish of Rathcline was most definitely the place to be over the weekend and the afterglow of a fabulous weekend is still with us all.

A full and detailed report of the weekend will be seen, in the coming days, on www.joeobrien.ie or call into O’Brien’s where the report will be printed.

New Garda

At the time of Jimmy Mangan’s retirement for the local Garda force, there was concern within the community that again there would be no replacement for a retiring garda in Lanesboro. Our fears were unfounded when Garda Morag Patterson, a native of Oranmore Co. Galway was appointed. Morag joined the Garda Siochana in January 2001. Her first station was Rathcoole, Co. Dublin. While stationed there she gained valuable experience while she worked in the drugs unit in Clondalkin and later on the detective branch. She moved to Knockrockery in January ’09 and then onto the new Garda station in Clonark in December 2012. She was station there until her transfer to Lanesboro.

Morag is married to James Rowan, Kenagh another member of an Garda Siochana. They reside locally with their two children. For the older resident of the community Morag’s grandfather Patrick Nolan was stationed at Lanesboro garda station in and around 1950 to 1960 and his Garda registration number was123. Patrick lived with his wife Sarah and their children at St. Anne’s at Harold’s crossroads. We are thrilled to have a new Garda stationed in Lanesboro and especially one that has a history to our parish Garda station and our parish. Morag will be a great asset to our town and the general area policed by Lanesboro Garda station. We wish Morag well and look forward to her being with us for many years to come. Yes the clock has gone the full circle!

Birth

Congratulations to Alan and Jacqui Leckey, Barnacor on the recent birth of a baby boy.

Sympathy

Our sincere sympathy to Peg Brennan and family, Lismacmanus on the death of Sr. Perpetua Brennan, Nazareth House Sister, Malahide Road, Dublin whose funeral mass took place on Wednesday last.

Wedding

The marriage took place on Friday 12th July at St. Mary’s Church Lanesboro of Patricia Donlon, daughter of Peter and Geraldine Donlon, Lisreeva, and Vincent Browne, son of Vincent and Marian Browne, Courtown Harbour, Gorey, Co. Wexford. The Matron of Honour was Kate Hession, sister of the bride and bridesmaids were Jenny and Noleen Donlon both sisters of the bride. Bestman was Peter Browne brother of the groom and groomsmen were James Browne brother of the groom and Aiden Darcy, a friend of the groom. Pageboy was Tony Hession nephew of the bride. The marriage ceremony was performed by Fr. Reilly, Lanesboro assisted by Fr. Tom Dalton, Riverchapel and Canon Paddy Daly uncle of the groom. The wedding reception was held in the Hodson Bay Hotel, Athlone. We wish the happy couple many years of wedded bliss.

Sympathy

Sympathy to the extended Connaughton family, Cullentra on the death of Mrs Mary Connaughton, Rathowen, Co. Westmeath and formerly of Corrigeen, who passed away late week.

Getting Married

Spaces are available for the Accord pre-marriage courses on 7th/10th October and 15th/16th November. You can make bookings online at www.accord.ie or phone 043 33 47222.

Sympathy

We would like to extend our deepest sympathy to Anne and Pat Beirne and family, Mahoraveen on the death of Anne’s sister Kathleen Hourican, Annaly Park, Longford. He remains were laid to rest in her native Legan last week.

Heritage Week

Heritage week takes place nationwide from 17th to 24th August. This year St. John’s church will be flying the flag for the area and their exhibition will be available for viewing throughout the week in the church. Everyone that has not availed of viewing this great work are invited to go along during heritage week.

Sympathy

We would like to extend our deepest sympathy to Yazzi Murray, Church View and her sister Audrey, Cnoc na Gaoithe, on the death of their nephew David Khan in Drogheda last week.

Lough Ree Golfing Society

This Saturday 17th August the Lough Ree Golfing Society will hold its outing to Longford Golf Course. The tee is booked from 11.30am so be there a little earlier for the draw. Please ring Frank at 0879730611 so he can inform the club about how many slots are needed. Well done to the jolly group of golfers who played in Longford on Wed 7th August as part of the Lanesborough Gathering celebrations! The course was exquisite and a very enjoyable was had by all. Hope to see a big turnout Longford this Saturday for another great day out.

Sympathy

Mickie Murray, formerly of Knock and late of Fourmilehouse, passed away recently. We would like to extend our deepest sympathy to his immediate and extended family. Mickie was a great character and a man also very fond of his native Lanesboro and he will be sadly missed.

Diocesan Pilgrimage to Knock

The annual diocesan pilgrimage to Knock will take place on Sunday 1st September and it will be led for the last time as Bishop of Ardagh and Clonmacnoise by Bishop Colm O’Reilly. The bus will leave Lanesboro at 10.30am. The timetable for the day is: Confessions at 12.30pm. Anointing of the sick at 2.30pm and the Mass and the blessing of the sick will take place at 3pm. Following mass there will be a Rosary procession.

Cystic Fibrosis Swim

The common consensus was that it was a tremendous occasion. Yes upwards of 50 people made the long swim from The Bord na Mona bridge at Kilnacarrow to Lanesboro Bridge in what was the first recorded group swim from bridge to bridge. There were a great number of people supporting the swim along the bridge and it was a great sight to see so many swimmers coming down the river all for a great cause.

Fr. Larney moves

Recent clerical changes in the parish of Kilgefin see Fr. Larney Shine move from his present duty in Ballyleague to Ballagh where he will be CC in Ballagh and also the priest in charge of Derrane. We welcome Fr. John Mc Manus to take up position of parish Priest in Ballyleague. Fr. John is a native of Strokestown and he has moved from his previous position in Athlone. We wish both a very happy time in their new positions.

Lough Derg Pilgrimage

The annual one day retreat to Lough Derg will take place on Sunday week 25th August leaving Ballyleague Hall at 7am. Last year there was a great demand for this annual one day retreat and early bookings are advisable. The bus will pick up pilgrims at Scramogue, Rooskey and Carrick-on-Shannon. The cost of entry to the island is €40 and the bus fare is extra. For bookings and further details you are asked to contact Mary at 043-33 21969.

Ballyleague Village Renewal

BINGO: Ballyleague Tidy Towns will be selling ducks for their forthcoming duck race at the bingo game in Ballyleague hall this Thursday night August 15th. All funds raised will go towards the re-development of the river bank project beside the old swimming pool in Ballyleague which takes place later this year. The Tidy towns committee wish to thank the Bingo hall committee for permission to sell at Thursdays night’s game. It is very much appreciated.

DUCK RACE: Over 1000 ducks have now been sold for the Ballyleague Tidy Towns and Riverbank project duck race on September 7th. There is still a small supply of ducks for sale in the shops, pubs and other businesses around the town but the committee would like to complete a head count on the duck sales at the end of this week so please get your duck in the next few days and help the shop keepers and pub owners account for their tickets in their premises. The committee would like to thank all the business people of the community for the tremendous support for this event. Ducks cost just a fiver each with three for a tenner. The first prize for the winning duck in the race is 500 euro.

MARQUEE: The Ballyleague community music festival will take place on the weekend September 20 to 22 with funds raised for Meningitis Research Foundation Ireland. There will be a number of top class acts in the marquee in Ballyleague. If you would like to help out in the organisation of the event or help raise funds for meningitis research please contact Joe or Martina at Daybreak Shop, Ballyleague Telephone 086 3823780.

Sympathy

Would like to extend our deepest sympathy to the Leavy family, Lanesboro on the death recently of Brian Matthew, Newbridge, husband to the late Ann Leavy.

Family Evening at the Races

The famous Roscommon Races have been enjoying a wonder summer of racing. On Monday evening next they will hold a Family Evening in conjunction with the scheduled race meeting. There will be fabulous free entertainment which will include Pirate Boat Train, Disco Dome, Rock and Roll Gladiators, Face Painting and front runner race club for kids. Allied to the wonderful spectacle of flat and national hunt racing this race meeting promises to be a magnificent evening out for young and old alike. There are bargain family prices on admission and it is an evening that is definitely not worth missing. The first race is off at 5.10pm and it is important that you are there good and early to get into the mood and swing of the evening.

If you wish, you can contact us using any of the methods below: Longford Leader,Leader House,Dublin Road, Co LongfordEmail: newsroom@longfordleader.ieTelephone: 043 3345241

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